Kantor believes that the following 7 principles are essential in order to successfully recognise employee’s contributions:

• Emphasise success rather than failure
• Deliver recognition and reward in an open and publicised way
• Deliver recognition in a personal and honest manner
• Tailor your recognition and reward to the unique needs of the people involved
• Timing is crucial – recognise contribution throughout a project
• Strive for a clear, unambiguous, and well-communicated connection between accomplishments and rewards
• Recognise recognition i.e. recognise people who recognise others for doing what is best for the company

It’s the little things in life that make a big difference and taking the time to say a simple thank you costs nothing and can have a dramatic effect on an individual’s morale and productivity.

Overall, the survey of 573 organisations from across the UK suggests that organisations are employing more methods to manage absence. However, fewer than half of employers monitor the cost of absence, which is a crucial step in reducing absence rates, especially in times of tight cost control.

Among the most effective methods of managing both short- and long-term absence are return-to-work interviews, trigger mechanisms to review attendance and disciplinary procedures for unacceptable absence. The importance of line managers having the information, skills and responsibility for managing absence was also rated as a highly effective method of managing short-term absence.

Although the highest levels of absence are reported in the public sector, employers in this sector are far less likely to take action through restricting sick pay and using appropriate levels of disciplinary action. Seventyseven per cent use disciplinary action, compared with 94% in manufacturing and production, with similar levels recorded in private sector services and in the nonprofit sector, which has far lower absence rates (75% and 74% respectively).

Occupational sick pay is most generous among public sector employers, where 64% provide full pay for more than 20 weeks, compared with about one-quarter (27%) in the manufacturing and production and non-profit sectors and just a fifth (20%) in private sector services.  The public sector is, however, most likely to adopt procedures designed to reduce sickness absence through promoting good health, (60% compared with 32% in manufacturing and 28% in private sector services) and flexible working (75% compared with 35% in manufacturing and 42% in private sector services).

The survey reveals that despite the pressure on organisations to cut costs, overall 22% of organisations have increased their well-being spend this year, with only 9% reducing it. The findings show that those organisations who evaluate their well-being spend are more likely to have increased their spend this year, and are also more likely to increase it in 2011, suggesting that investing in well-being pays off.

An increased focus on well-being across the sectors is reassuring, given that the recession and the subsequent recovery has taken its toll on absence. Over a third of employers reported that stress-related absence has increased over the past year, while a similar number (38%) noted an increase in reported mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression – a noticeable rise since the previous survey, when one-fifth reported an increase.

An increase in mental health problems was also linked to a greater number of people coming to work ill in the last 12 months. Ensuring the well-being of staff is of paramount importance in times of uncertainty and there is a limit to how long employees can work under pressure before their health suffers.

The findings suggest that organisations are taking a more proactive approach to absence management.  However, there is still more that can be done to decrease absence levels and promote the health and well-being of the UK workforce, particularly in the public sector where many employers are in for difficult times ahead.  Faced with budget cuts, they are likely to anticipate redundancies, organisational change and increased workloads.

Ensuring line managers have the skills required to manage absence and to provide appropriate support to employees is particularly vital over the next year.

Afterall, if they feel they are valued and know that their employer cares about their welfare and wellbeing – they’ll work wonders for you.

That’s why it’s important to recognise that providing a safe and healthy working environment is vital to the success of your business.

Call 0845 226 7290 to find out more about Office Retreat’s corporate wellbeing services and to hear how a large variety of major organisations are enjoying the benefit of their therapeutic services.

In a matter of minutes you will be feeling de-stressed and more balanced as the uplifting massage treatment awakens your senses. Some of the other benefits associated with mobile massage include:

• Increases employee morale and productivity
• Helps to creates a better working environment
• Reduce stress related sickness and absences
• Relieves pressure and promotes creativity
• Improves company brand and helps to be recognised as an employer of choice

To find out how mobile massage can help your organisation to flourish call 0845 226 7290 today!

In it’s simplest form office massage is having a qualified massage therapist visit your place of work in order to perform on site massage treatments such as Indian Head Massage and seated acupressure using a portable massage chair.  Treatments can vary in length although chair massage treatments tend to last between 15 to 20 minutes in duration.  As the recipient does not get undressed the office massages can take place at the desk or if available in a separate meeting room.

Regular massage treatments can help prevent employees from developing stress related illnesses and repititive strain injuries whilst also having a positive effect on employee morale.  Although office massage is not a magic bullet, competitive employee benefits such as on site massage can help strengthen the emotional contract between employer and employee and may also help establish the organisation as an employer of choice.

You may not realize it, but the way you design, lay out and use your office can have a profound impact on the amount of stress you feel in your daily work life. While nothing can eliminate the burden your job places on you, there are some things you can do to make your office, and your work, less stressful.

1. Put everything in its place – Spending hours hunting for an important file is enough to cause anyone’s stress level to spike. Reduce the stress you feel by putting everything in its place. Invest in some quality oak file cabinets to keep track of your important paper documents, and a desktop scanner to make electronic copies of all your vital information.

2. Add some soft music – Ambient music can have a strong effect on your overall mood and your stress level. Choose a favorite classical CD and turn the volume down low. You will be surprised at how much relaxation your favorite music can bring.

3. Use soft lighting – The fluorescent lighting used in many offices can cause significant glare, and that type of lighting can even trigger headaches in some people. Choose soft lighting instead, with a combination of overhead lighting and pole lamps for the corner of your office.

4. Bring a touch of home – Surround yourself with familiar and comforting objects, including pictures of your loved ones, cherished snapshots from your latest vacation and your kids’ latest craft masterpieces. Bringing a touch of home into the office reminds you why you work so hard, and helps you feel less stressed.

5. Banish clutter – Clutter is the enemy of efficiency, and an efficient office is a low stress office. Take the time to do a little spring cleaning in your office. Once the cleaning is done, it will be easier to find what you need, and that can reduce your stress level.

6. Choose soothing colors for the office walls – The color of your office can have a profound impact on your mood, so if the budget allows, consider painting the office walls in soothing pastels instead of the harsh whites favored by many corporations.

7. Add some artwork – Hanging a favorite painting in your office can provide inspiration as well as stress relief. Whether you choose a portrait of a business leader you admire or just a favorite seascape, you can reduce your stress while bringing charm and beauty to your office retreat.

8. Let nature have free rein – Adding some natural elements to your office is the perfect way to relieve stress. Something as simple as a desktop waterfall, or as elaborate as a saltwater aquarium, can bring the beauty of nature into your office and reduce your stress level markedly.

9. Comfortable designs – When choosing furniture for your office, be sure not to sacrifice comfort for style and beauty. It is important for your furniture to impress those who visit your office, especially if you are an executive. But it is even more important that your furniture be comfortable. After all, you will be spending long hours at your desk and in your chair, long after those important clients have departed.

10. Consider ergonomics as well – Ergonomic designs take your body into account, and how each element in your office affects your comfort and your safety. Take these ergonomic concepts seriously, and build them into your office environment.

1. Swedish Massage

This is the most basic of all massage techniques, and the more popular, as it is usually the first to be learnt by masseuses.  The Swedish massage technique consists of five basic steps or sub-techniques.

Effleurage.  This first step involves long, sweeping strokes with the hands, gliding over the body.  The main purpose of this is to relax the muscles.

Petrissage.  This next step, the muscles are gently manipulated by being squeezed and lifted from the body.  This is to relax the muscles and to improve circulation.

Friction.  The masseuse applies heat to the skin and muscle in this step, by rubbing the surface with deep, circular movements.  This stretches muscle fibres, breaks down any knots caused by binding of muscle fibres and improves muscle and joint flexibility.

Tapotement.  Additionally known as percussion, the masseuse will quickly and rhythmically tap, cup or chop the skin with their hands.  This stimulates the muscles into promoting gas exchange to improve circulation and also firms the skin and releases muscle tension and spasms.

Vibration.  This last step entails gently shaking the skin with the fingers or hand.  This releases any remaining tension that may reside in the muscles and also boosts circulation.

2. Deep Tissue Massage

This type of massage technique is especially good for treating specific areas of the body.  The masseuse will typically use their elbows or the knuckles on their fingers, working with slow, deep movements across the fibre of the muscle and across tendons.  This will restrict and release blood to the muscle, re-energising the tissue with fresh oxygen, and remove more complex knots in the muscle fibres.

3. Sports Massage

The Sports Massage technique is a combination of other massage techniques.  The chief techniques used are Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage and Trigger Point massage.  With the last-mentioned, Trigger Point massage involves the masseuse pinpointing the muscle area affected by detecting a hardness in the tissue, and then working directly on that area with the fingers until the muscle relaxes.  Sports massage will reduce muscle swelling and tension, relieve muscle fatigue and increase the flexibility of the muscle tissue.

4. Indian Head Massage

This ancient massage technique, also known as Champissage, covers the neck and shoulders as well as the head.  The neck and shoulders are first deeply kneaded and squeezed to remove any muscle tension.  Once completed, the masseuse will move on to the head and scalp.  With the wrists resting on the head and using their finger tips, they will lightly claw at the scalp, as if shampooing the hair.  This will increase circulation thus improving blood supply to the brain.

Before the final step, the masseuse will perform a facial massage, gently rubbing the temples in a small circular motion.  Once finished, they will gently rub the forehead, moving away from the centre down each side of the face to the temple, before finally stroking slowly from the forehead towards the back of the head, becoming lighter as they do, until the fingers lift away from the head.  This technique will remove tension from the shoulders and neck, release sinus pressure and relieve stress that can ultimately lead to headaches.

5. Reflexology

This massage technique is specifically for hands and feet.  Firstly, the foot/hand is gently stoked and rubbed to warm the area before being worked.  The masseuse will then use their thumbs and fingers to explore the subject, including the area between the fingers and toes, to find any anomalies.  An area that needs specific attention will be gently compressed and rubbed before the masseuse moves on to the next area.  Once the hand or foot has been finished, the masseuse will gently rub and stroke the hand or foot again, to relieve any stress.

6. Hot Stone Massage

As the name suggests, Hot Stone Massage utilises heated stones.  The stones used are smooth and are pre-heated in water beforehand.  Once the stones are at working temperature they are placed on specific parts of the body.  The heat from the stones penetrates the muscles, which make them relax, stretching the muscle fibres and improving circulation.  The stones are then used to massage the area, whilst they are still heated.  Hot Stone Massage is used over the whole body, except for the face, and will relieve pain and muscle tension, improve muscle flexibility and increase blood circulation.

7. Shiatsu Massage

This eastern oriental massage technique uses the fingers and thumbs on the acupuncture pressure points on the body, and is often known as acupressure.  Some masseuses even use their elbows and knees during a massage session.  The body’s pressure points are manipulated by tapping, squeezing, rubbing and deeply probing, which releases and restores the energy flow around the body.  This technique relieves pain and relaxes the muscles, and improves the circulation of blood around the body.

8. Neuromuscular Massage

This particular technique focuses on a specific muscular complaint.  The masseuse will concentrate on that distinct area and locate the trigger point within that muscle which is causing the problem.  The masseuse will apply continuous pressure with the fingers, knuckles or the elbows, for a prolonged period.  This will improve the circulation within the muscle and relieve any pain or discomfort.

9. Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy massage techniques are specialised due to the nature of pregnancy.  The areas that are covered are primarily the back and buttocks, legs and feet.  For the back and buttocks, the masseuse will use a soft fist and will draw their knuckles from the neck down to the hips and will then run the fist back upward to the ribs.  The masseuse will also apply pressure just below the base of the spine between the buttocks using the palm of their hand.  Legs and feet will be rubbed softly.  These techniques will relax the muscles and increase the blood circulation.

10. Aromatherapy Massage

This is not strictly a technique, more the addition of essential oils to the techniques mentioned above.  The masseuse will use the more relaxing strokes and compliment them with essential oils.  The oils chosen vary depending on the result that the masseuse would like to achieve.  Different oils will produce differing feelings of well being, and this is something that the patient and masseuse would discuss beforehand.

These massage techniques can benefit employers and employees alike.  By re-energising the mind and body, workplace morale improves creating a more pleasant, stress free working environment that all can benefit from.

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1. Workload
2. Feeling undervalued
3. Deadlines
4. Type of work people have to do
5. Having to take on other people’s work
6. Lack of job satisfaction
7. Lack of control over the working day
8. Having to work long hours
9. Frustration with the working environment
10. Targets

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